GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- It's been almost six years since Devin Ebanks was drafted 43rd overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He played 63 games for the Lakers over the next three seasons -- but hasn't been back in the NBA since 2013.
Now the Grand Rapids Drive forward hopes a strong weekend at the NBADL Showcase can convince another team to take a chance on him.
Ebanks averaged 23 points and eight rebounds in two Drive wins in Santa Cruz, garnering honorable mention All-Showcase honors. The D-League Showcase is meant to be a platform for players to show scouts they're ready for a 10-day contract with one of the 30 NBA teams. While the former West Virginia star wants to be back in the Association, he's focused on helping the Drive while he's in Grand Rapids.
"It's something that we really don't have control of," Ebanks said at practice on Tuesday. "We have to control what we control -- and that's just keep winning games and sticking together as a group."
"I just come out there and try to prove that I'm a team player to the scouts."
"He's still working on parts of his game, but at the same time, he had a great Showcase," head coach Otis Smith said Tuesday. "He did a lot of things well for us on both ends of the floor and he continues to show he's ready for the next step."
